Time to air your strong points

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Q: In a job interview, how do I respond to the question: "What are your weaknesses?" without jeopardizing my chances? I've heard the best way is to turn a negative into a positive such as, "I've been told that I am a perfectionist."

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A: Many organizations scout candidates with key strengths they can leverage instead of well-rounded generalists. Areas that require development come with the territory.

Your best defence is a good offence. Go into an interview knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Show you're handling your shortcomings by identifying circumstances where they appear and how you manage them. Make a strong case for how effective your strengths are.

For example, you can reframe your perfectionism as a positive -- a keen attention to detail. Combined with one of your key strengths -- efficiency, perhaps -- may mean you can be counted on to produce superior results, and in much less time than others.

If your perfectionism surfaces when you are unsure of what's expected, explain how you ask enough questions to get the clarity and context you need to successfully tackle the job.

Finally, you might show you're striving to improve by completing lower-priority tasks at the 90-per-cent mark, rather than driving for 150 per cent on everything. Describe how you draw on your thoroughness for projects that demand high accuracy and precision.

Sometimes interviewers are less interested in the weakness than in what your response reveals about your character and attitude. Being truthful will demonstrate your integrity and ability to accurately assess yourself.

The employer may be willing to buy your strengths to round out a team. Your weaknesses may be another member's strong point, making you a perfect fit to fill the gap.

Joni Mar is a certified corporate and business coach based in Vancouver. She can be reached at 604-261-3809 or through her website, www.jonimar.com.

- Have a career question? Write our coaches at provmoney@theprovince.com.

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